Turbine locomotive control system



March 20, 1945. c. c. WHITTAKER TURBINE LOCOMOTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM :5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1943 WITNESSES:

March 20, 1945. c. c. WHITTAKER 2,372,151

TURBINE LOCOMOTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 20, 1943 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l X l 35 41 39 46 45 45 47 43 44 WITNESSES: INVENTOR 672477165 6. M/fZZ/Zfikar.

ATTOR a Y March 20, 1945. .c. c. WHITTAKER 2,372,151

TURBINE LOCOMOTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 20, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 [fair/F Vd/vtQ/lhaer E1 t3 7 1LJLJ U fiydmzz/zz 42/16 WITNESSES: INVENTOR Patented Mar. 20, 1945 2,372,151 TURBINE LOCOMOTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM Charles C. Whittaker, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 20, 1943, Serial No. 495,443

My invention relates, generally, to the control of locomotives and, more particularly, to the control of turbine driven locomotives.

On locomotives which are driven by turbines, the forward drive turbine is usually geared directly to the driving wheels. When this is done a reverse turbine is necessary for reversing the locomotive. The reverse turbine may be conneoted into the rotating system by means of a clutch which is disengaged while the forward turbine is in operation. Therefore, it is necessary that the locomotive be at a standstill when the reverse clutch is engaged.

An object of my invention is to permit the clutch for the reverse turbine of a locomotive to be engaged when, and only when, the locomotive is at a standstill.

Another object of my invention is to provide a motion-detecting device which shall be simple and eflicient in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fluid-pressure operated motion-detecting device.

Still another obiectof my invention is to provide a motion-detecting device which is responsive to movement in either of two directions.

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

in accordance with one embodiment of my invention, a fluid-pressure operated device, which is responsive to any rotational movement in either direction, so controls the operation of a hydraulically-operated clutch for the reverse turbine oi a turbine-driven locomotive that the clutch cannot be actuated into engagement unless the locomotive is substantially at a standstill.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a portion .0! a turbinedriven locomotive in which my invention is utilined;

Fig. 2 is a view, in plan, of a motion-detecting device constructed in accordance with my invention, the top cover being removed;

Fig. 3 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, in section, the section being taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, in section, the section being taken along the line V--V 01- Fig. 2;

8 Claims. (Cl. 192-82) Fig. 6 is a reduced view, in plan, of a portion of the locomotive structure showing the location of the forward and the reverse turbines, a portion being broken away for clearness, and

Fig. 7 is a. diagrammatic view of the locomotlve control system.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 6, the portion of the locomotive structure shown therein comprises a forward driving turblue in and a reverse driving turbine H. The forward turbine I0 is directly connected by a shaft l2 and pinions H to gears II, which, in turn, are connected to the driving wheels of the locomotive (not shown). The reverse turbine II is provided with a reduction gear unit I! which is connected to the shaft l2 by means of a clutch l6.

As shown in Fig. 1 the clutch i6 may be of the type disclosed in the copending applications of G. M. Mierley, Serial No. 452,597, filed July 28, 1942 and now Patent No. 2,345,410, and J. 8. Newton, Serial No. 485,196, filed April 30, 1943 and comprises a driven member I! secured to the shaft l2 and a driving member I! splined to a member l9 that is secured to a shaft 2| which is driven by the reverse turbine it through the reduction gear unit IS. The driving member i8 is provided with a plurality of teeth 22 which may be actuated into engagement with similar teeth 23 provided on the driven member ll. The driving member I8 is normally retained out of engagement with the driven member I! by a spring 24.

The teeth 22 may be actuated into engagement with the teeth 23 by the admission of a fluid under pressure to the clutch housing through a pipe 25. When the pressure fluid is admitted to the clutch housing, sufilcient pressure is applied to the member It to overcome the force 01 the spring 24 and cause the teeth 22 to, engage the teeth 23 on the driven member H. K

As explained hereinbefore it is desirable that the member is should not be actuated into engagement with the member ll unless the locomotive, and consequently the member H, is at a complete standstill. Furthermore, it is also desirable that the clutch members should be dis engaged only when the locomotive is at a standstill.

In order to accomplish the foregoing results a A motion-detecting device 26 may be mounted on top of the housing for the clutch l8. As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the motion-detecting device 28 comprises a cylinder assembly 21, valve assemblies 28 and 29, and an arm 3|. all of which are enclosed in a housing 30 having a removable cover 32.

As shown in Fig. 3, the arm 3| is trunnioned at 33 for movement in two planesand is provided at one end with a finger or plunger 34 which extends through the bottom of the housing 3|]. The lower end of the plunger 34 is disposed to engage the driven member I! of the-clutch it when the end of the arm 3| which carries the plunger 34 is actuated downwardly about its pivot 33. A spring 35 normally biases the end of the arm 3| which carries the plunger 34 upwardly to retain the plunger out of engagement with the clutch member i1. As shown in Fig. 2, the arm 3| is centered about the pivot 33 in a horizontal plane by spring-biased centering pins 36 and 31 which are disposed on opposite sides of the end of the arm 3| which is opposite from the end carrying the plunger 34.

, As shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder assembly '21 contains pistons 38 and 39 disposed in a chamber 4|. As shown in Fig. 3, the end of the piston 38 extends through one end of the cylinder 21 to engage a projection'fl? on the arm 3|. Asshown in Fig. the piston 33 carries a valve 33 which is disposed in a chamber 43 in the cylinder 21. An opening fiaextends through the piston 39 from the chamber 44 into the chamber 4| for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. The valve 43 is normally biased by a spring 43 to close an opening 41 between the chamber 44 and a chamber 48 in the cylinder 21. Openings iii and 52 are provided for making external connections to the chambers 44 and 48 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 5, the valve assembly 28 comprises a valve member 53 which is slidably disposed in a chamber 53 to close an opening'5 5 be- -tniveen the chamber 54 and a chamber 53. The valve 53 is normally retained open by a'spring 31. Openings 58 and 33 are provided for making external connections to the chambers 54 and 53 respectively.

As show-rain Fig.2,the valve 53 is provided with a stem iii which extends through-'theendof the valve assembly and may be engaged by the arm 30 to close valve 53, as will be explained more fullyhereinafter. The valve 29 is similar in structure' to thevalve 28, and,'therefore, will not be described in detail.

lihe operation or the motion-detecting device is as follows: Assumethat a fluid, such ascom pressed air,'is admitted to the chamber 44 through the opening "5t as a result ofthe operation, of the reverse throttle of the locomotive. The air is "free to pass through-the opening 45 into the chamber opening 58 for the valve assembly '28. The opening 59 for the valve assembly 28 may be connected to a valve for controlling the admission of the pressure fluid to the clutch It, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. Since it has been assumed that the driven member H is stationary at this time, both of the valves 28 and 29 are open and the air is free to flow through these valves to the valve for controlling the operation of the clutch it.

However, if it be assumed that the driven member i1 is rotating in either direction, the finger 3 3 will be dragged by the motion of the clutch member, and the arm 3| will pivot about pivot 33 to close the valve member in one or the other of the valves 28 and .23, depending on the direction of motion of the clutch member l'l. Since the valve 28 or the valve 29 will be closed before the piston 39 operates to open the valve 43 to permit air to leave the cylinder 21 through the opening 52, the air is prevented from reaching the valve which controls the operation of the clutch. In this manner there is no possibility of the clutch being engaged if there is the slightest movement of the clutch member |1.

If motion is present when the engine man tries to engage the reversing clutch, he observes that nothing has happened and the reverse lever may be moved to theofi position. In this manner the supply of air is removed from'the cylinder 2? and the finger 34 dsengages the driven member iii. The arm 3| is returned to its mid position by the centering members 36 and 31.

The operation may be repeated by returning the control lever to the reverse position which re admits air to the cylinder 21. As explained hereinbefore, if at this time thedriven member i1 is at a standstill, the motion detecting device will permit the air to flow through to the valve for controlling the operation of the clutch.

The application of the present device to the control of a hydraulically operated clutch, such iii where'it causes thepiston 3.8 to move-outwardly. As explained hereinbefore, the piston rod "3-3 engages the projection 32 of the arm3l and causes the end of the finger or plunger 33 to engage the outer periphery of the driven member l1.

If the driven member i1 is not rotating, the finger 34 and the arm 3| stay in their mid position as determined by the centering members 36 and 31. Under this condition, air pressure builds up in the chamber 4| until it is sufiicient to overcome the pressure of the spring 46 and actuates the piston 39 to open the valve 43. The open ng of the valve 43 permits air to flow from the chamber 44 into the chamber 48 and out through the opening As shown in Figure '7, the opening 52 may be connected by a pipe 50 to an opening 62, for the valve assembly 29. An opening 63 for the valve assembly 29 may be connected by a pipe to the as the one herein illustrated, is diagrammati al y shown in Fig. '1. As shown, a throttle controll ng device is connected to the motion-detecting device 26 by an air line 66. The motion-detecting device 26 is connected, by an air line 61, to a valve cylinder '33 which controls the operation of the clutch l3.

Assuming that it is desired to operate the locomotive in the reverse direction, the throttle device 35 is actuated from the neutral" position through the clutch position to the reverse" position. In this manner air is admitted from an air line'tii through the throttle device 65 and the pipe 63 into the motion-detecting device 2B. As

- explained hereinbefore, if the locomotiv is at a standstill at this time, the air flows through the motion-detectingdevice 26 and the air line 61 into the cylinder 68. When the pressure in the cylinder 68 is sufficiently high, a valve is operated in a hydraulic line 1|, thereby operating the clutch it.

When it is desired to disengage the clutch Hi, the lever of the throttle device 65 is actuated from the reverse position through the clutch position to the neutral" position. thereby admitting air into the motion-detecing device 26. As explained hereinbefore, if the locomotive is at a standstill while the control lever is in the clutch" position, the air is permitted to flow through the device 26 and into the cylinder 68 to operate the valve in the hydraulic line 1|. In this manner the supply of pressure fluid to the clutch I6 is shut ofi and the clutch is disengaged since the valve in the hydraulic line is alternately opened and closed upon the admission of air to the cylinder 68.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a motion-detecting device which is suitable for controlling the reverse clutch of a turbine driven locomotive. It is also apparent that the device herein described may be utilized for other applications where it is necessary to detect a slight amount of motion in either of two directions.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above-described construction, and difierent embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a control system, in combination, a driven member, a driving member, means for actuating the driving member into engagement with the driven member, and a fluid-pressure operated device responsive to movement of the driven member in either direction for controlling the operation of said actuating means, said device having a fluid-pressure operated member for engaging said driven member, and valve means actuated by movement of said fluid-pressure operated member by said driven member to prevent the operation of said actuating means except when the driven member is substantially at a standstill.

' 2. In a control system, in combination, a driven member, a driving member, means for actuating the driving member into engagement with the driven member, and a fluid-pressure operated device responsive to movement of the driven member in either direction for controlling the operation of said actuating means, said device having a plunger movable longitudinally into engagement with said driven member, and valve means actuated by transverse movement of said plunger by said driven member to prevent the operation of said actuating means except when the driven member is substantially at a standstill.

3. In a control system, in combination, a driven member, a driving member, means for actuating the driving member into engagement with the driven member, and a fluid-pressure operated device responsive to movement of the driven member in either direction for controlling the operation of said actuating means, said device ing means except when the driven member is sub stantially at a standstill.

4. A device for detecting motion of an external member comprising a longitudinally and transversely movable plunger, fluid-pressure operated means for actuating said plunger longitudinally into engagement with the external member, and valve means actuated by transverse movement of said plunger in either of two directions by said external member.

5. A device for detecting motion of an external member comprising a longitudinally and transversely movable plunger, fluid-pressure operated means for actuating said plunger longitudinally into engagement :with the external member, and valve means independently operable by transverse movement of said plunger by said external memher.

6. A device for detecting motion of an external member comprising a, longitudinally and transversely movable plunger, fluid-pressure operated means for actuating said plunger longitudinally into engagement with the external member, and a pair of oppositely disposed valves independently operable by transverse movement of said plunger by said external member.

7. A device for detecting motion of an external member comprising a longitudinally and trans versely movable plunger, a pivotally mounted arm for carrying said plunger, fluid-pressure operated means for actuating said arm to move the plunger into engagement with the external member, and a pair of oppositely disposed valves independently operable by transverse movement of said plunger by said external member.

8. A device for detecting motion of an external member comprising a longitudinally movable plunger, an arm for carrying said plunger, said arm being pivotally mounted for movement in two planes, fluid-pressure operated means for actuating said arm and said plunger in one plane to move the plunger into engagement with the external member, and a pair of oppositely disposed valves independently operable by movement of said plunger and said arm in the other plane by said external member.

CHARLES C. WHITI'AKER. 

